Yahusha (Jesus) & The Adultress Woman

(John 8:3-6 NNAS) The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.” “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him………

The little clash YAHUAH-YAHSHA had with the Scribes and Pharisees was one of many over the interpretation and understanding of the scriptures and of the law. The Jewish leaders were getting “Fed Up” with this New Man on the Block (outsider) teaching a different or contradictory religion to their own. All this was creating the erosion of their control and authority over the nice little SYSTEM they had going.

Many teach today that this little episode is proof that YAHUAH-YAHSHA did come and introduce a new and different religion which “did away ” with the law and replaced it with GRACE. “We are no longer under the LAW”, that’s what they teach, and the proof of it is that YAHUAH-YAHSHA Saved the Adulterous Woman that was condemned to death in accordance to the Law of Moses. (John 8:5)

First, YAHUAH-YAHSHA DID NOT come to do away or change the Law. (Mat 5:17) He stated very clearly that not one jot or tittle of the law would fall or change so long as heaven and earth remains to exist. (Luke 16:17 & Mat 5:18)

So, Did YAHUAH-YAHSHA SAVE this woman from her Death sentence by introducing the Doctrine of Grace? Or did the Law of Moses (YAHUAH’S LAW) save Her?? Let’s take a look.

There is much speculation as to what YAHUAH-YAHSHA wrote on the ground the two times in John 8:6 and John 8:8. One common teaching is that he was probably writing down the names of various members of the group who were condemning the woman and writing down their matching sins the second time. With this exposure, it is suggested, the mob broke up, each seeing their names and sins written down before them. (John 8:9)

I suggest that in reality what occurred was that YAHUAH-YAHSHA actually became the Woman’s Advocate/Lawyer or Mediator against the UNJUST application of the Law. The Law does read that an adulteress woman shall surely be put to death because committing adultery is a Sin and death is the penalty for that particular sin. This was the argument used by the Scribes and Pharisees for justifying the condemnation of the woman.

But YAHUAH-YAHSHA, by knowing the LETTER of the Law and the SPIRIT (Intent/Purpose) of the Law, was actually accusing the Scribes and Pharisees of Sinning (The Breaking of the Law) because they were NOT following DUE PROCESS according to the LAW. Remember, the Breaking or going against YAHUAH’S Law (also referred to as the Mosaic Law or Torah) is defined as Sin. (1 John 3:4)

Have you heard the terms RULE OF LAW and POINT OF LAW? I also suggest these were the issues YAHUAH-YAHSHA was arguing about by writing the applicable scriptures on the ground in opposition to the Scribes and Pharisees accusations!!

Setting the scene with the above information, let us go through the chain of events of John 8:2-11 again. With my addition of some commentary and the scriptures that I think YAHUAH-YAHSHA wrote on the ground, a better and more accurate understanding may result.

Early in the morning YAHUAH-YAHSHA came again into the temple court, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees then brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to YAHUAH-YAHSHA, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.
“Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But YAHUAH-YAHSHA stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground (the following scriptures).

And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.(Lev 20:10)

If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.(Deu 22:22)

These scriptures showed that the RULE of LAW and DUE PROCESS was not being followed because the man (the adulterer) was not in custody and was not being charged along with the woman. But it seems that this was not a major issue with the Scribes and Pharisees because they continued to force the issue concerning the guilt and execution of the WOMAN only.

But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. (This time the scriptures he wrote were:)

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses,shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; butat the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him toput him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people.So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. (Deu 17:6-7)

One witness shall not rise up against a man (or woman) forany iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at themouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses,shall the matter be established. If a false witness rise upagainst any man (or woman) to testify against him (or her)that which is wrong; Then both of them, between whom thecontroversy is, shall stand before YAHUAH, before thepriests and the judges, which shall be in those days;And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold,if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falselyagainst his brother (or sister); Then shall ye do unto him,as he had thought to have done unto his brother (or sister):so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. (Deu 19:15-19)

Having to address the groups second misapplication of the LAW, YAHUAH-YAHSHA wrote down Deut 17:6&7 (as POINTS OF LAW) to justify his question of who among them are the two or three LEGAL witnesses that are required to throw the 1st stones. (John 8:7) YAHUAH-YAHSHA did not write down the PAST individual sins of these Scribes and Pharisees (as is commonly taught). What he did write down were the Sins that they were in the very act of committing!

Deut 19:15-19 was to remind these supposedly scholars of YAHUAH’S LAW that if there were any false witness, then they were sinners (Breaking of the Law), and would be judged according to the RULE of LAW. (In this case, possibly be put to death!) YAHUAH-YAHSHA was making the Law clear to these Scribes & Pharisees that there had to be TWO or THREE witnesses to this act of adultery in order to make this a LEGAL and JUST execution.

If the required witnesses were not present (to cast the first stones) then the whole group was in the act of SINNING because YAHUAH’S LAW was being broken. At this time YAHUAH-YAHSHA probably reminded the group before him that according to scriptures, Liars and False Witnesses are an abomination to YAHUAH. (Proverbs 6:16 & 6:19)

When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, until He was left alone, with the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, YAHUAH-YAHSHA said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.” And YAHUAH-YAHSHA said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

The older Scribes and Pharisees (being wiser) were first to leave realizing they were caught in the act of a no win Sinful situation. YAHUAH-YAHSHA himself could not condemn the woman either (even if she was guilty) because he was not a witness to the crime. If he were to condemn her, He would have broken the very Laws that he came to make TRUE and WHOLE again. (See 1 Peter 2:22)

YAHUAH-YAHSHA surly had love and compassion for this woman, because it is YAHUAH’S desire that all will be saved (1 Tim 2:4 & 2 Peter 3:9), by telling her to “Go, and Sin no more.” He also was giving her Good earthly advice because if one does NOT Sin, he or she would not open themselves to this sort of predicament.

Many interpret the event of YAHUAH-YAHSHA and the adulterous woman as an example of GRACE. John 8:2-11 is used in many teachings and arguments as proof that only sinless people have a right to pass judgment and condemn anyone. All have sinned and come short of the law, (Romans 3:23) so therefore, there can be no penalties or judgment of YAHUAH’S law carried out under such logic. As you can see, the point YAHUAH-YAHSHA made in this episode was not whether the woman was Guilty or Innocent, the Issue was if the LAW was being Justly Applied according to the RULE of LAW (YAHUAH’S LAW).

Now you answer the Question, Was it YAHUAH’S LAW (Law of Moses) that saved the Adulterous Woman from DEATH?